Amid the fallout of a major land scam in Haridwar, the Uttarakhand government has appointed IAS officer Mayur Dixit, a 2013-batch officer, as the new District Magistrate (DM) of Haridwar. Mr. Dixit will officially assume charge at 1 PM on Wednesday at the Collectorate Treasury Office.
This high-profile appointment follows Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s directive for swift administrative action after grave irregularities were uncovered in the Haridwar Municipal Corporation. On Tuesday evening, 12 officials, including former DM Karmendra Singh, the then Municipal Commissioner, and the SDM, were suspended for their alleged involvement in the scam. Shortly afterward, Mr. Dixit was announced as Mr. Singh’s replacement.
Mayur Dixit’s Previous Role and Experience
Before his new assignment, Mr. Mayur Dixit served as the District Magistrate of Tehri Garhwal. In addition, he held dual portfolios as Director of the Tehri Dam Rehabilitation Project and Vice Chairman of the District Development Authority, Tehri. He has now been relieved from these roles to take charge of the crucial Haridwar district amid the ongoing investigation and administrative reshuffle.
Change in Tehri Garhwal Leadership
In a parallel move, Ms. Nitika Khandelwal, a 2015-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the new District Magistrate of Tehri Garhwal. She will also assume charge as the Director of the Tehri Dam Rehabilitation Project. Ms. Khandelwal previously served as Additional Secretary in the state government and has held significant positions in the departments of Information Technology, Science & Technology, and has been associated with platforms such as Suraj Portal, USAC, and as Managing Director of Hiltron.
Behind the Scenes of the Appointment
Earlier in the day, there was speculation over who would succeed Mr. Karmendra Singh as Haridwar DM, with Mela Officer Ms. Sonika also considered a possible candidate. However, by Tuesday evening, the Department of Personnel and Vigilance released the official order confirming Mr. Dixit’s appointment.
Administrative Shake-Up Sends Strong Message
These senior-level bureaucratic transfers are being viewed as a strong statement by the Uttarakhand government, signaling its commitment to transparency and accountability in the wake of the Haridwar land scam. With Mr. Dixit now at the helm in Haridwar, all eyes are on how the district administration will proceed with cleanup and reform.
